Published: 07:00 AM, Fri Sep 25, 2009
International Folk Festival brings art, culture and food to downtown
By Brian Dukes
Staff writer
The International Folk Festival returns this weekend. And this year, it's muy grande!
For the first time in its 31 year history, the festival will feature two full days of activities, beginning Saturday with the 11 a.m. annual Parade of Nations, and concluding Sunday with the Dance Party in the Park, which will be 4 to 6 p.m.
"We're always looking for ways to improve upon what's an already incredible festival," said Deborah Martin-Mintz, executive director of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, which produces the festival.
Most festival fans will be just happy that the expanded schedule means two full days of the International Cafe, a fact not lost on Martin-Mintz.
"People love the colors, the costumes, the parade, the fun, the music," said Martin-Mintz. "But they really love the food. The cafe is always a huge hit."
Martin-Mintz also expects the Blue Marble Kids' area to be a huge attraction. It will be the first time the festival has had a specific area for children, complete with various hands-on art activities, live entertainment, storytelling and a chance for children to meet and interact with artists.
But it's not like the festival needs any help to become more popular. About 70,000 people attended last year's festival, Martin-Mintz said. And she's expecting bigger crowds this year.
"Even in a down economy, people want to celebrate diversity and have fun," said Martin-Mintz. "And we offer all of that, and for free."
The unofficial kick-off is Friday at Fourth Friday, in downtown. The Arts Council will unveil its latest art exhibit, "Opening of Cultural Expressions," from 7 to 9 p.m.
On Saturday, the festival gets started with the Parade of Nations at 11 a.m. Following last year's example, there's no specific host country for the parade this year. But there will be representatives in the parade from almost 30 different countries.
The parade's route will repeat last year's. It will begin at Cool Spring Street near the Cumberland County Courthouse and progress to Festival Park via Hay Street.
It should be pointed out to potential festival-goers that many downtown streets will be closed to vehicle traffic on the day of the parade and throughout the festival.
Once the parade ends in Festival Park, the festivities will launch in full force, complete with five stages of live entertainment spread throughout the park and adjacent areas.
Among the numerous performers are various local and regional acts, such as the Bob Steele Blues Band and the Bavarian Brass Band.
Then there are arts and crafts, vendors, the International Cafe, the Hanging Beer Gardens of Babylon and much more.
And you get to multiply all that by two, as Sunday will bring even more of the same beginning at noon.
The festival will conclude Sunday with a special concert featuring Tropic Culture from 4 to 6 p.m.
"It's going to be the biggest Folk Festival yet," said Martin-Mintz. "It's really a celebration of our community and its wonderfully diverse people. It's a very exciting time."
Staff writer Brian Dukes can be reached at dukesb@fayobserver.com or 486-3523.